Posted on 06/26/2002 6:40:21 AM PDT by maryz
Sieg Heil
I don't think they know -- according to a story in today's WSJ (posted somewhere on FR, I think "In Strictest Security, Scientists Are Giving Smallpox to Monkeys"), governments are afraid that some of the preserved virus may have been stolen -- similar to fears that old Soviet nuclear materials have not been accounted for. Of course, the WSJ article notes that CDC scientists are deliberately (and horribly) infecting monkeys to try to discover a treatment, which does not currently exist. What if someone at the CDC can be bribed (what? a government employee take a bribe?); what if they've been infiltrated, as seems possible with the FBI (lots of terror indicators went untranslated)?
I don't know. But when the anthrax scare started, articles on likely forms of bioterrorism always mentioned the possibility of smallpox. Whether someone knows more than I do (highly likely), or they're making it up, I couldn't say.
This is a great idea, but we can't make it happen because the US media is on their side.
I know you are all probably tired of me quoting Thomas Sowell (what can I say, the guy is my hero), but he lumps journalists in with traditional academics in that, their only "product" is ideas.
He stated that those people who's sole contribution to society is ideas, compete with other groups for influence over society. Specifically, the military, who use force to assert their authority, and business people who use wealth to assert theirs.
Journalists and academics assume whatever position is contrary to these other two groups.
Since defending the country is being done by the military, and being paid for by business and industry, the left (the aforementioned journalists and academics) are currently apoplectic at their irrelevance. They have no choice but to support our enemies, because it's the only way they can lobby for additional influence.
(for the record, those conclusions are mine, only the concept is Dr. Sowell's. I'd hate to see him blamed for my ranting.)
9. Dubya asked us to lend our eyes and ears to help spot terrorists. Good idea. But what are we looking and listening for? The Israelis must have some profiles of suicide bombers that help them catch most of them before they explode.
How about camel-breath and sand in their slippers?
8. Fire Transportation Secretary Norm Mineta, and arm the airline pilots.
Right on. They should also require ALL states to issue concealed carry permits to law-abiding citizens. Then the camel herders can never be sure who is likely to blow their @ss away if they try something funny.
7. Sounds O.K., but I would add the military to patrol our borders - with dogs, mines and barbed wire.
6. "Fire Norm Mineta:" Sounds like a good idea. I'd add Colon Powell, that liberal weasel, and also Tom Ridge - color-coding genius ( Is yellow more dangerous than orange? What abour chartreuse and mauve - what a maroon!!)
5. "Since 1996, Mexican soldiers and police have illegally crossed into the U.S. about 120 times, escorting drug smugglers and illegal aliens into the U.S. How many terrorists and how much weaponry is among them? They have fired on Border Patrol cars approaching them. We should tell Vicente Fox that any Mexican Army or police who cross the border without our written permission will be fired on. No warning shots; all center of mass. The President needs to stop fishing for votes in the Rio Grande."
Right on!! I heard they consider the southwest Mexican territory. How about ceding Hollyweird to them? They deserve it.
4. Start a global psychological warfare on terror.
Excellant idea. Sort of like "Disinformation campaigns"
3. There are about 250,000 hours of intelligence intercept tapes recorded since 9-11 that haven't yet been listened to. We have too few Arab-speaking intelligence analysts, and even many of them are sitting on their behinds, not working on this stuff. We should put all we have to work, and hire more. In New York City alone, there are hundreds of Sephardic Jews, many who came from places like Syria and Jordan, who can translate the tapes while understanding the nuances of the Arabic language. We should hire as many as we need and work the hell out of them.
Another good idea - especially the aprt about Sephardic Jews. I wouldn't trust Muslims.
2.
I say - no MUSLIMS - period. From anywhere! If an American converts or is Muslim, exile them to Saudi Arabia.
1. "Make smallpox vaccine available to every American who wants it. Smallpox is horribly contagious. If you get it, and haven't been vaccinated, there's no treatment. It's also one of the biological weapons Saddam -- and others -- have in their arsenals right now. I've been trying to get it for my family since about 9-12. The vaccine is unavailable because the government doesn't want to tell one segment of the population -- those with AIDS -- that they can't have it. The damaged immune systems of AIDS sufferers can't fight the vaccine, and it will probably kill them. Concern about "discriminating" against AIDS patients is preventing everyone else from getting the vaccine."
I guess even Terrorism has unexpected benefits.
I can't recall the details, but I think I read over the past week that Israel is planning Arab language broadcasts to the Arab world -- I probably saw the account posted on FR, but I don't have clue where to search it.
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